Journal

Dry patches of skin are just as uncomfortable as they are unappealing, aren’t they? The worst part about them is they can appear any time of year – during the harsh, cold winter weather as well as the hot, dry summer months. They can also appear on your face, elbows, knees, feet, and anywhere else that falls victim to mother nature and dry skin.

Depending on your skin type and the degree of dryness, these unsightly and annoying patches could be healed with anything from a little extra lotion to a more aggressive (but natural) skincare routine. We’ve compiled a few ways you can fight your own dry patches to help reveal the soft, supple skin that’s dying to break free.

Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate

The best thing about exfoliation is that it’s easy, effective, and you don’t have to do it every day. You can even make your own all natural body scrub with equal parts organic brown sugar and coconut oil, and add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil for a refreshing scent.

Exfoliation removes excess dead skin cells, which can create a barrier that prevents the moisture you need from being absorbed into the skin. Simply use your rub on the dry patches, rubbing it in until the sugar melts. Pat your skin dry, and moisturize accordingly.

Soak in Epsom salts

Soaking in the bathtub is a remedy anyone can get behind, eh? Simply add a cup or two of your preferred Epsom salts to an already lukewarm bath (water that’s too hot can further dry out your skin), and soak for 10-15 minutes. You can also add in your favorite organic almond/jojoba/olive oil to the bath for extra moisture.

Moisturize with a little milk

Milk has anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe itchy, dry skin. When you have an itch, you scratch it, right? Right. That’s actually a counterproductive, inflammatory cycle that does nothing to soothe dry skin – it just irritates it further.

If your dry skin patches are extra itchy, grab a quart of your favorite organic milk and pour it into a bowl. Use a washcloth to soak up the milk and apply it gently to your dry skin patches – hold it there for a few minutes, then repeat all over.

Post-shower care is important

After a nice shower (remember- not too hot!), your pores are open and your skin is ripe with moisture. If you’ve used an exfoliant while showering, your dry patches are perfectly primed for extra moisture via your favorite body butter, cream, lotion, or oil.

These natural solutions are formulated to seal in the moisture to your skin (especially post-shower or bath), preventing it from evaporating.

DIY body butter to use before bed

It’s an old-fashioned trick, but a valid one. Applying a thick layer of moisture to your skin underneath your pajamas before bed can be messy, but it’s also incredibly effective. You can even make your own DIY, all natural body butter that combines our favorite moisturizing ingredients!

Here’s our favorite, simple recipe: Combine ½ cup organic shea or cocoa butter with ½ cup organic coconut oil and ¼ cup organic olive oil in a small pot on the stove. Heat until all ingredients are melted, then pour into a mixing bowl. Set bowl in fridge for 20-30 minutes, until the sides of the bowl begin to re-harden into a solid (this will create a noticeable “O” ring). Pull from fridge, add in 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oils scent (lavender and lemongrass is our fave), and whip until thick peaks begin to form and the mixture resembles a creamy, whipped body butter.

All natural, very effective, and luxurious for your dry skin! Perfect for before bedtime.

Bye-bye, dry skin

The good news about dry skin patches (bear with me here) is that they’re almost never irreparable. Hopefully after trying a few of these simple, natural homemade remedies, your skin is as soft as a baby’s bottom soon enough!

If for some reason these remedies don’t work, or if your dry skin becomes scaly or begins to bleed, please make an appointment to see your doctor.

Editor’s note: This is a guest post by Alana Mitchell. Alana Mitchell is the day spa owner at Skincare by Alana, beauty/skincare expert and licensed esthetician. Skincare by Alana is a popular online skincare shop for famous brands like Rhonda Allison, Dermalogica skin care and many more. She doesn’t believe in beauty products that are not tried and researched, rather she is excited about natural organic day spa treatments that actually work.

RT: I grew up in a blue collar town of Dearborn, Michigan with an amazing family of my two brothers, mother and father. Growing up with brothers and strong willed, independent parents has taught me how to be a strong woman, and I am forever grateful for my family in helping me evolve into the person I am today. From an early age I was a dreamer, believer and very ambitious. I started training in ballet, jazz and lyrical dance at 5 years old and through today I believe the discipline has taught me how to strive for something more, to be responsible and creating the life you would dream of. After graduating from the University of Michigan with Honors I left my hometown to pursue a career in Los Angeles, where for 8 years I worked in PR, Advertising and Media. But after many years in the industry I decided it was time to pursue my passion of skincare, specifically organic and non-toxic skincare and I wanted to educate consumers on the dangers of toxins that are in 99% of products. Pearlesque was then born just a few months later….

How did your natural beauty journey start?

RT: Unbeknownst to me, Pearlesque Box has been a lifetime in the making. At an early age I was diagnosed with Psoriasis where I had to take great measures to treat my condition, including exposure to sunlight, ointments, creams, laser treatments, coal tar (gross), steroid injections…you name it. Since there is no cure for psoriasis, I knew it was a lifelong struggle ahead. It wasn’t too long that I discovered that many skincare products on the market severely affected my skin, causing increased red patches on my body. At that time natural products were not prevalent in the US. I then started creating my own products using natural ingredients such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, etc, which helped my psoriasis. In my 20’s I started traveling to various countries and discovered that those countries have been using local natural ingredients for their skin from the beginning of time. The question I had was “Why are natural skincare products not prevalent in the US?” With so many big conglomerate beauty brands that had the majority share in the beauty industry I wanted to make a change. A change in the industry and also the mindset of the American consumer. That’s when it struck me….”It is a necessity to launch a company where consumers can discover organic, non-toxic and natural skincare products from around the world!” Combining my passion of skincare and traveling is what I had to do!

Are natural products part of your daily life? Tell us a little about your daily skincare routine

RT: Absolutely! Natural skincare products have been a part of my life since childhood because of my psoriasis condition. To many, my daily skincare routine can be quite daunting but for me it’s no different than the time spent on anything else that I do in life. In the mornings I wash my face, apply toner, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer, sunscreen and if needed, a skin treatment for my psoriasis. I try my best not to wear makeup everyday because I want to keep my skin as pure as possible. In the evenings the routine is almost the same… cleanser, serum, eye cream and a algae mist spray.

Do you see your skincare regime as purely based on beauty products or is it just one aspect of your lifestyle?

RT: For me, my skincare regimen is an aspect of my lifestyle just as much as exercising and eating healthy.

Have you found any other activities complementary to the way you look after your skin?

RT: It’s extremely important to nourish your body from the outside and within. Eating healthy, exercising, drinking a TON of water and getting your beauty rest…. 8 hours of sleep nightly!

What is your vision for Pearlesque Box?

RT: Our vision is for Pearlesque Box to be the go-to online platform for all organic and non-toxic beauty! We are not just another subscription box, we are more than that! We would love to help consumers on their skincare regimen, educate them and provide access to the highest quality organic skincare from around the world.

How do you choose the brands that feature in each box?

RT: We do thorough research with our brands and vetting the products by testing them ourselves prior to the partnership. We look at the up and coming brands all over the world via online research, events, conferences as well as customer inquiries about brands. It is our duty to ensure we are following guidelines and creating checks and balances for every brand prior to sending them to our customers.

What kind of products can subscribers expect to find in the box?

RT: We focus solely on skincare and bath & body products. We have learned through customer feedback that they turn to us for these types of products and trust us with the brands. Possibly down the road we will incorporate makeup and hair products but at the moment it is not our focus. We listen to our customers closely and ensure we are giving them exactly what they want and need!

What does authentic beauty mean to you?

RT: Authentic beauty is beyond your outer beauty, what you apply to your skin and physical appearance. It is the core of your heart and how you treat others, how you see the world and what you do on a daily basis to make a difference in the world. To be authentic is to be genuine and true to yourself.

The practice of yoga has long been associated with good health and wellbeing, and has never been more popular. Yoga is far more than an exercise routine, it is also a spiritual practice encompassing relaxation and meditation. The meaning of the word Yoga is ‘Union’ and in today’s modern world being in union with yourself has never been more important.

It can be difficult at first to find the right style of yoga and the right teacher, and the intimidation often felt by new students can be a block to establishing a practice. Over time and with dedication yoga can transform lives and lead to huge changes.

So what do you do if you want to take your practice to the next level and become a certified yoga instructor? Finding the right teacher training program can be frustrating, as courses can often be expensive and lengthy. Overseas courses don’s necessarily meet standards and expectations of employers once you return home. Finding a yoga teacher training courses is very personal and it is important to find a course that suits your lifestyle.

The beautiful Bhava Yoga Centre in Melbourne is one of the city’s longest running yoga schools. Since July 1986 the Bhava Centre has offered a heart-centered space to practice both yoga and meditation, teaching a style of yoga that is creative in nature. Using colour, music and imitation, classes are creative and flowing. Classes are beautiful and suit all ages and fitness levels.

The yoga teacher training course runs for a full year and is taught by experienced teachers Wendy Bradtke and Gabrielle Boswell. The course is fully registered with Yoga Australia and students receive a full qualification to teach yoga.

For further details on the classes taught at Bhava Centre visit their website

Are you on a quest for glowing skin but never quite seem to get that healthy radiance? Before you blame your lifestyle or skincare regime, learn how this holistic therapy method could help you achieve a healthy glow.

We all know glowing skin comes from within and if your digestion is not functioning properly it can have an effect on your skin. Poor eating habits, stress and other life style factors can all contribute to digestive issues. If symptoms go on untreated they can lead to ongoing problems.

It is now commonly understood that the ‘gut’ is the second brain and can tell you a lot about what is going on in your body. To help decode the messages your body is sending, you may want to book an appointment with Danielle Rickwood.

Danielle Rickwood is an Abdominal Health Coach and Certified Arvigo Maya Abdominal Therapy Practitioner. Abdominal Therapy is all about the health and happiness of your belly and the organs that live there. Through your sessions with Danielle, you will learn to unlock the secrets to ongoing health and wellbeing when it comes to supporting the optimal function of your reproductive and digestive organs.

Her unique approach to healing allows for not only clinic based sessions but, also abdominal coaching sessions via Skype. Danielle encourages all clients to actively participate in their own healing, allowing clients to take ownership of their health
and wellbeing. In a beautiful non-judgemental environment, Danielle creates the space for nurturing and self-care. Her honest approach to wellbeing is refreshing and her beautiful energy allows for an enjoyable treatment. Danielle really takes the time to connect to clients and assess their needs.

We all share similar abdominal health issues but how our digestive or reproductive systems become out of balance is unique to the individual. The stories each and every cell holds lays the blue print for our individual health challenges or what Danielle prefers to call ‘life lessons’. Clients are treated as individuals and as such, consultations are tailored to suit individual needs.

With over 15 years experience, Danielle has successfully treated a wide range of common abdominal health issues including IBS, menstrual cycle issues, fertility challenges to name but a few. With successful practices both in Australia and in the UK Danielle will be in Australia from October offering sessions from her Melbourne, Byron Bay and Sydney clinics.